Typewriting machine



w. A. DoBsON TYPWRITING MACHINE 1 June 4, 1929.

Filed Nov. 6, 1 925 2 Sheets-Sheet HQI.

0 h4 9 O/@U W6" M Z 76 ,uw a 5 Z 255 w 4 896.00 245 5 5 5 5 y.

i Arm y June 4, 1929. w.I A. DoBsoN 1,715,906

TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Nov. 6 1925 2 {Sheets-Sweet 2 Patented June 4, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. DOBSON, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO UNDERWOOD ELLIOTT FISHER COMPANY, F NEW YORK, N. Y.,'A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE.

TYPEWRITING MACHINE.

Application led November 6, 1925. Serial No. 67,297.

This invention relates to ribbon-vibrating means for typewriting machines, and more particularly to means for causing a varia-ble actuation of the ribbon-vibrator, so as to use either field of a bichrome ribbon, or to silence the vibrator for stencil printing.

One of the features of the present invention is the provision of improved means for voperating the ribbon-vibrator, upon depression of any of the type-keys., independently of the universal bar which operates .the vcarriage feed.

Another feature is the compact assembling, as a unit` of the elements for variably vibrating the ribbon, this unit being easily attached to and detached from the machine;

Another feature of this invention relates to means whereby side thrust of the ribbonvibrator against its guide is eliminated. Heretofore much trouble has been experienced on account of lateral pressure on the ribbon-vibrator guide which tends to make operation thereof diflicult and renders the operation of the keys hard. According to this invention, the operating lever is not pivotally mounted on the ribbon-vibrator, as in former practice, but is yoperatively connected thereto by means .of a pin-and-slot arrangement which permits lateral movement of the lever relative to the ribbon-vibrator'.A The free end of the lever, however, is held against longitudinal displacement but may be moved up and down. In .this man-ner.- the side thrust is not placed on the ribbon-vibrator but is taken up by a fixed pin which engages a transverse slot in the lever. The lever is pivotally mounted on `a shiftable Vfulcrum-pin fast to an arm pivotally mounted on a plate carried by the carriage. The arm may be swung to move the pin to either end of a curvate slot in the lever and `may be resiliently held in either of its extreme positions. Thus the throw of the lever at the ribbon-vibrator end may be varied at will to thereby present either field of the ribbon to the printing l-ine. The lever is vibrated upon operation of the typewriter-keys by means of a universal bar, which is operatively connected to the lever by means of a bellcrank and a toggle-joint operated thereby.

Another feature is the provision of improved means to ,cause the posit-ion of rest of the ribbon-vibrator to be the same distance from the printing point in both shift 'positions of the platen, assuring accurate positioning of the ribbon, the vibrator traveling upon guide positioned on the type-segment, while the variable actuating means and the controlling` member therefor are all mounted upon the shift-frame.

AOther features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

f Figure lis a fragmentary front elevation, partly in section, of an Underwood .portable typewriter with the invention applied thereto, and set for lower-case typing in the black field of the bichrome ribbon.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan of the machine with parts broken away.

Figure 3 is a part of the view shown in Figure 1, except that the machine is set for uppercase typing.

Figure 4 is a side elevation, partly in section, of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged frontelevation similar to Figure 1, except that the device is set for typing in the red iield of the ribbon, and the parts are in printing positions.

Figure 6 is a side elevation taken on the line 6 6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is an enlarged front view similar to Figure 1, yexcept that the mechanism has been silenced for stencil typing.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the lino 8 8 of Figure 7.

Keys 11 depress levers 12 pivoted upon a rod 13 against the tension of returning springs 14, thereby actuating bell-cranks 15 and vpullinglinks 16 to swing t-ype-bars 17. The type-bars are pivoted at 18 in a segment 19 secured to main frame 20. Types 21 strike against platen 22 mounted in carriage 23. The type-bars operate a .universal bar 23a that actuates the carriage-feeding mechanism, not shown. There is also provided a universal bar 24 operable by key-levers 12 against -the tension of a returning spring 28. This universal .bar by means of link 34 (Figure 1) swings bell-crank 33, which by means of link 35 opens or straightens toggle 86, thereby liftinga lever 37 of the third order together with ribbon-vilnrator 43 to present ribbon 25 at the printing point. This universal bar 24 maybe mounted upon rockshaft 26 pivoted to the main frame, and said rock-shaft may be provided with a crank 27 to actua-te by means of link 2,7 the usual ribbon-winding mecha-I nism I81'. n

There ,is provideda plateBO upon which the described ribbon-viln'ating mechanism is assembled, and this unit is mounted on the front earriage-rail 31 and secured by screws 32,

As the `bell-crank 33 is positioned on bracket 29 on the main frame of the machine, while the ribbon-vibrating mechanism is mounted upon a shiftable part of the ma chine, there is employed toggle 36 to make positive connection between said link and the ribbon-vibrating lever 37. The lower arm 38 of the toggle 36 is pivoted at 39 on the plate 30, and the other arm 40 is pivoted at 41 to the actuating lever 37; while the elbowstud 42 of the arms is connected by link 35 to the bell-crank 33, the link being retained by a releasable spring' 82. To assure the toggle being normally partly closed, there is provided a spring 78 tensioned between a pin 79 in rear of the plate 30 and the shank of elbow-stud 42 of said toggle.

The lever 37, which is provided with a floating fulcrum-pin 44 to cause a variable lift, has a tendency to side sweep before it is properly set for its upward movement, and

'to cause the ribbon-vibrator to jam against the guide 45, preventing the ribbon being presented properly at the printing point. To overcome this, the lever 37 is guided to have only an up-and-down movement or oscillation by means of a shouldered pin 46 projecting from plate 30 into a transverse slot 47 in the lever. This slot is in the end of the lever opposite from the bifurcated or yoke-shaped end 48, that engages a shouldered pin 58 in the lower end of the vibrator.

This lever has a tendency to dip downwardlyat the forked end, causing the ribbonvibrator to have a changeable starting point, resulting in inaccurate positioning of the rib bon. To establish a reliable starting point for the ribbon-vibrator, the forked end of the lever is made to rest upon a shelf 49, secured to the back plate 50 and front carriagerail 31 by screws 51 and 513.

To eliminate quivering of the vibrator, there is provided at the rear of the type-segment, at 52, a guideanember 53 with a slot 54 in which base 55 of the lower U-shaped end 56 ofthe vibrator may travel. An upwardlybent extension 57 of the base is provided with a shouldered pin 58 that is engaged by the yoke or fork of actuating lever 37.

As the actuating lever is freed from side sweep, and its forked end is provided with a rest which is always disposed the same distance from the printing point, and the ribbon-vibrator is also freed from any quiver, a smooth positive action is obtained.

For causing the different lields of the ribbon to be presented at the printing point, or to be idle, as for stencil-printing, there is provided a manual control-lever 59, which is pivoted at an intermediate point 60 to a projection 61 of plate 30, and maybe yieldably retained in any one of three settings 62, 63, 64.

To avoid any tendency of the control-lever to become distorted, there is provided a guard member 68 secured to the projection G1, a horizontal extension 67 of said guard member being divided into a pair of guard-rails by a slot 66, in which the control-lever travels at the linger-piece end G5 and near the top thereof.

The fulcrum-pin of the actuating lever is moved to any one of the three posit-ions by means of a control-lever oscillating arm 71 upon a pivot- 72 in the plate 30, by means of a pin 73 extending from the arm 71 into a slot 74 in the lower end of the control-lever. The upper end of the arm is provided with the fulcrum-pin 44 engaging the actuating lever 37, the fulcrum-pin extending; through an arcuate slot 75 of this lever, said slot being provided at an intermediate point with a recess 77 to register with the fulcrum-pin for stencihprinting.

'Io assure a parallel movement during the.

oscillation of the actuating lever in relation to plate 30, the fulcrum-pin extends through another arcuate slot 76 in said plate, and is provided with a head 8O shouldered against the rear of the plate.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, keys, and a ribbon-vibrator, of a lever for moving the ribbon-vibrator upwardly for presenting the ribbon to the printing point, there being a guide for said ribbon-vibrator, a support for the lever intermediate the extremities thereof, and means controlled by the typewriter-keys for rocking said lever, said lever having one end thereof operatively connected with said ribbon-vibrator and having its other end independently controlled to prevent endwise movement thereof.

2. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen, a ribbon-vibrator, a guide for said ribbon-vibrator, a lever having` one end thereof operatively connected to said ribbonvibrator for moving it upwardly, means controlled by the typewriter-keys for rocking said lever, and means at the free end of the lever for preventing endwise movement thereof, said last-mentioned means including a fixed guiding member' arranged to co-operate with a slot in the lever to thereby permit up and down movement of the free end of the lever.

3. In a typewriting machine, the combination` of a platen, a ribbon-vibrator, a guide for said. ribbon-vibrator, a pin carried by said ribbon-vibrator, a pivoted lever having at one of its ends a slot therein extending in a longitudinal direction with respect to said lever and receiving said pin, means for rocking lit) lil)

said lever to thereby elevate said ribbon-vibrator, said lever having a transverse slot therein at the other end thereof, anda pin in said transverse slot for limiting endwise movement of said lever.

4. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, a ribbon-vibrator and a guide therefor, of an intermediately-pivoted lever, a pivot therefor, means operatively connecting said lever at one end to said ribbon-vibrator, there being means for varying the position of the pivot relative to said lever, and distinct means independent of said ribbon-vibrator for preventing endwise movement of said lever, while permitting vertical oscillation of the other end thereof.

5. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen, a ribbon-vibrator, a guide for said ribbon-vibrator, a pin carried by said ribbon-vibrator, a lever having a slot therein at one end thereof for receiving said pin, a. toggle-joint for rocking said lever to thereby elevate said ribbon-vibrator, a supporting pin for said lever, said lever having a slot therein for receiving said supporting pin, means for shifting theposition of the pin in the slot to thereby vary the fulcrum-pointof said lever, and means at the other end of the lever for limiting endwise movement thereof.

6. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a. platen, a ribbon-vibrator, a guide for said ribbon-vibrator, a pin carried by said ribbon-vibrator, a lever having a slot therein at one end thereof for receiving said pin, a support, a fulcrum-arm pivoted on said support and having a pin thereon, said lever having a slot therein for receiving the secondmentioned pin, said fulcruIn-arm being` movable to vary the fulcrum-point of said lever, a pin on said support, said lever having a transverse slot therein receiving t-he thirdmentioned pin, and means for moving said lever about its pivot-point to elevate said ribbon-vibrator, said transverse slot permitting up and down movement of one end of said lever, but preventing endwise movement thereof.

7. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a ribbon-vibrator movable up and down, means for guiding said ribbon-vibrator in up-and-down movement, a lever connected to said ribbon-vibrator for moving it up and down, a supporting plate, a fulcrumarm pivoted on said plate and having a pin thereon provided with a head, said lever having a slot therein receiving said pin, said lever fulcruming on said pin, said plate having ya slot therein, said pin extending through the second-mentioned slot, said head co-operating with the face of said supporting plate to prevent movement of said fulcrum-arm` away from said supporting plate, and means for moving said lever pivot-ally about said pin.

8. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a ribbon-vibrator movable up and down, means for guiding said ribbon-vibrator in its up-and-down movement, a lever connect-ed to saidvibrator for moving it upwardly, said lever having a slot therein, a support, a fulcrum-arm pivoted on said support and having a pin thereon projecting into said slot, and a control-lever pivoted on said support and connected at one end to said arm at a point intermediate the ends of said arm, said control-lever being movable to move said fulcrum-arm and thereby shift said pin.

9. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen, a carriage therefor, a ribbonvibrator movable up and down in front of said platen, a rlever connected to said ribbonvibrator for moving it up and down, a front carriage supporting rail, a plate secured to said rail, a fulcrum-arm pivoted on said plate and having a pin thereon, said lever having a slot receiving said pin, said plate having a forward supporting portion spaced away from the main body of said plate, said lever being movable bet-Ween the main body of said plate and said forward portion, and a control-lever pivoted to said forward portion and connected to said fulcrum-arm for moving said arm and positioning said pin at different points in said slot.

l0. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen, a ribbon-vibrator movable up and down, means for guiding said ribbonvibrator in its up-and-down movement, a pivi oted lever for lifting said ribbon-vibrator, a supporting plate, a toggle for moving said lever and actuating said ribbon-vibrator, one end of said toggle being connected to said plate and the other end to4 said lever, means for varying the fulcrum-point of said lever, said plate having an opening therein, said toggle having a knuckle-pin projecting through said opening, and a spring secured to said pin and extending along the rear face of said supporting plate out of the path of travel of said lever and the second-mentioned means, and secured to said supporting plate, said spring tending to move said pin and thereby lower the arm of said lever.

l1. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a front carriage-supporting rail, a ribbon-vibrator movable up and down, means for guiding said ribbon-vibrator in its upand-down movement, means for moving said ribbon-vibrator up and down, means including a control-lever for determining the height to which said ribbon-vibrator is lifted, a plate having a main portion secured to said rail, and a forward arm extending parallel to said main portion and spaced therefrom, said control-lever being pivoted on said arm and extending upwardly above said rail, and a guard secured to said arm and extending above said rail for preventing accidental deformation of said control-lever.v

12. In a typewritingmachine, the combination with a platen, a carriage therefor, a

izo

Ll t) Vlarriage-shift-frame having a back plate and a front carriage-supliorting rail, of a ribbonvibrator movable up and down, means for guiding said ribbon-vibrator in its up-anddoivn movement, a lever connected to said ribbon-vibrator for lifting it, means carried by said carriage-shift-frame for moving said lever and lifting said ribbon-vibrator, and a rest secured to said back plate and said front rail and extending forwardly of said front rail, said rest being engageable by said lever for limiting the downward movement thereof and determining the start-ing point of the stroke of said lever and said ribbon-vibrator.

13. In a ribbon-vibrating mechanism for a typewriting machine, the combination With a ribbon-vibrator and a guide therefor, of a lever operatively connected with said vibrator for elevating the same to thereby present the ribbon to the printing line, said lever being rockable on a single manually-shiftable fulcrum to change at vvill the extent to Which the ribbon is elevated, and distinct auxiliary means for controlling the direction of movement of the lever.

14. In a ribbon-vibrating mechanism for Va typevvriting machine, the combination with a ribbon-vibrator and a guide therefor, of a lever operatively connected vvith said vibrator for elevatingr the same to thereby present the ribbon to the printing line, said lever being rock-able on a manually-shiftable fulcrum to change at willV the extent to which the ribbon is elevated, and for silencingr the operation of the ribbon, and means including a pin arranged to engage a slot in the lever for preventing longitudinal movement of the lever and thereby insuring a free vertical oscillation of the ribbon-vibrator.

15. A ribbon-vibrating mechanism for a typewriting machine including the combination of a ribbon-vibrator for elevating the ribbon to the printing line, of a lever, means operatively connecting one end of said lever with said ribbon-vibrator, distinct means for controlling the free end of said lever in a manner to directionally limit the movements thereof, means controlled by depression of the typewriter-keys for vibrating said lever, and a manually-shiftable fulcrum member having a single fulcrum thereon for said lever for changing at will the field of the ribbon which is presented to the types upon operation of the key-s.

16. In a ribbon-vibrating mechanism for a typewriting machine, the combination With a ribbon-vibrator and a guide therefor, of a lever, means operatively connecting one end of said lever with the ribbon-vibrator, distinct limiting means disposed at the free end of the lever for preventing longitudinal displacement thereof, While permitting said free end to be moved up and down, a shiftable fulcrum having a single pivot thereon for the lever, and means controlled by the operation of the typewriter-keys for rocking said lever to thereby raise the ribbon-vibrator.

. 17. In a ribbon-vibrating mechanism for a typewriting machine, the combination with a ribbon-vibrator and afguide therefor, of a lever, means operatively connecting one ond of said lever with the ribbon-vibrator, distinct limiting means at the free end of the lever for preventing longitudinal displacement thereof, While permitting said free end to be moved up and down, a single shiftable fulcrum for the lever, and means controlled by operation of the typewriter-keys for rocking said lever to thereby aise the ribbonvibrator, saidY last-mentioned means including a universal bar operated upon depression of the keys, a bell crank, and a link operatively connecting one arm of said bell-crank with said universal bar, there being a toggle-'joint operatively connected with the ribbonvibrator lever, and means connecting said second bell-crank arm with said toggle-joint.

18. In a ribbon-vibrating mechanismfor a typeivriting machine, the combination with a ribbon-vibrator and a guide therefor, of a lever, means operatively connect-ing one end of said lever with the ribbon-vibrator, distinct limiting means at the free end of the lever for preventing longitudinal displacement of said lever, While permitting vertical oscillation thereof, intermediate means operatively connected With the typewriterlieys for oscillating the lever, a fulcrum-pin for said lever, and auxiliary means for manually shifting the position thereof to thereby predetermine at will which fiel d of the ribbon is presented to the printing line, said lastmentioned means being also effective to silence the operation of the ribbon.

19. 1n a ribbon-vibrating mechanism for a typewriting machine, the combination with a ribbon-vibrator and a guide therefor, of a lever, means for operatively connecting one end of said lever With the ribbon-vibrator, means at the free end of the lever for preventing longitudinal displacement thereof, While permitting said free end to be moved up and dovvn, a toggle-joint operatively connected with the typewriter-keys for moving said lever, a fulcrum-pin for said lever, and

means for manually shifting the position thereof to thereby predetermine at Will which field of the ribbon is presented to the printing line, said last-mentioned means including a pivotally-mounted arm for carrying the fulCrum-pin at the free end thereof, said pin engaging a slot in the lever, a handle for rocking said arm and means for guarding and resiliently positioning the free end of the handle.

20. ln a typevvriting machine having a platen and a ease-shiftable carriage, a ribbonvibrating mechanism including a ribbonvibrator, a lever, means operatively connecting one end of the lever With said ribbonvibrator, a support, a plate carried thereon in spaced association with said carriage and shiftable therewith to change case, and a pin carried by said plate and engaging with a slot in the free end of said lever in a manner to permit vertical oscillation of said free end, while preventing longitudinal displacement of the lever, said plate together with said lever and pin being detachable as a unit.

2l. In a typewriting machine having .a platen and a case-shiftable carriage, ribbonvibrating mechanism including a ribbonvibrator, a lever, means operatively connecting one end of the lever with said vibrator, a plate carried in association with said carriage and sliiftable therewith to change case, a pin carried by said plate, and engaging with a slot in the free end of said leve'r in a manner to permit vertical oscillation thereof, while preventing longitudinal displacement of the lever, a fulcruni-pin for said lever, an arm for carrying said fulcrum-pin, which arm is pivotally mounted on said plate and movable therewith, and means for rocking said arm to thereby move the fulcrum-pin to either end of a second slot in the lever.

22. In a typewriting machine having a platen and a case-shiftable carriage, the coinbination with ribbon-vibrating mechanism including a ribbon-vibrator, of a lever, means operatively connecting one end of the lever with said ribbon-vibrator, a plate cairied in association with said carriage and shiftable therewith to change case, a pin carried by said pla 1e and engaging with a slot in the free end of said lever in a manner to permit vertical oscillation of said free kend, while preventing longitudinal displacement of the lever, a f-ulcrum-pin for said lever, an arm for carrying said fulcrum-pin, which arm is pivotally mounted on said plate and movable therewith, and means for rocking said arm to thereby move the fulcrum-pin to either end of a second slot in the lever, including a handle also pivotally mounted on said plate and movable therewith, and means carried by said plate for positioning said .handle in either of its extreme positions, and for iesiliently holding the same in its middle position to thereby prevent operation of the ribbon-vibrator.

23. In a typewriting machine having a platen, a ribbon-vibrator and a guide therefor, the combination with a support. on said machine, of a single fulcrum associated with said support, a vibrator-lever swingably mounted on said fiilcriiin and at one extremity operatively engaging said ribbon-vibrator to provide for vertical oscillation thereof, there being a transverse slot in the other eX- tremity of said lever, an independent pin rigidly secured to said support and engaging said lever slot in order to limit the movements of the extremities of the lever soleiy to vertical oscillations, and means operatively associated with said lever, whereby the keys of the machine upon being depressed will rock land oscillate the lever' upon its fulcrum and raise said ribbon-vibrator.

24. In a typewriting machine having a.v

platen, a. ribbon-vibrator, a guide there-for and typing instrumentalities including keys, the combination with a support on said machine, of an arm pivotally mounted on said the lever being operatively associated withv said ribbon-vibrator at one extremity to pi'ovide for oscillation of the vibrator, meansy controlled by said keys to operate said lever and thereby said vibrator, and distinct means independently mounted oii said support and associated with said arm, whereby to shift the same and thereby shift saidlever-ful-vr crum.

25. In a typewriting machine having a platen, a ribbon-vibrator, a guide therefor and typing instrumentalities including keys, the combination with a support on said machine, of an arm pivotally mounted on said support, a fiilcruin for said lever engaging a slot therein and secured on said arm in such manner as to be shiftable thereby in said slot for altering the throw of the lever, the lever being operatively associated with said ribbon-vibrator at one extremityto provide for oscillation of the vibrator, means controlled by said keys to operate said lever and thereby said vibrator, and a manuallysliiftable lever independently pivoted on said support and operatively connected to said arm, whereby to shift the same and thereby shift said lever-fulcrum.

26. In a typewriting machine having a platen, a ribbon-vibrator, a guide therefor and typing instrumentalities including keys, the combination with a support on said machine, of an arm pivotally mounted on said support, a fulcrum for said lever engaging a slot therein and secured on said arm in such manner as to be sliiftable thereby in said slot for altering thel throw of the lever, the lever being operatively associated with said ribbon-vibrator at one extremity to provide for oscillation of the vibratoi', means controlled by said keys to operate said lever and thereby said vibrator, distinct means to limit the movements ofthe extremities of the lever solely to vertical oscillations, and a inanually-operable lever independently pivoted on said support. and operatively connected to said arm whereby to shift the saine and thereby shift said lever-fulcrum.

27. In a typewriting machine having a platen-carriage, a platen thereon, a ribbonvibrator, a guide therefor and typing instrumentalities, the combination with a shiftframe for said carriage, of a detachable unit in the form of a vibrator mechanism including a support-plate attached to said shiftfraine, a ulcrum-arm shiftably mounted on said plate and having a fulerum-pin thereon, a vibrator-lever operatively and releasably associated at Ione extremity With said vibrator and having a slot engaging said ulcrumpin, so that said lever may be rocked on the same, a control lever independently mounted on said plate and ope 'atively connected to said fulcrum-arm whereby to shift the same and alter the throw oi' the vibrator-lever, and retaining means on the plate for said lever to direetionally limit the movements thereof, there being means to operate said vibrator-lever whereby to raise said vibrator.

28. In a typewriting machine having a platen, a ribbon-vibrator, a guide therefor, and a lever associated with the vibrator Yfior vertically oscillating the same, a shi'ttable unitary fulcrum for said lever, an independently-mounted control-lever for shitting said ulcrum in order to change the relation of said ulcrum to said vibrator-lever and thereby alter the throw of the lever whereby to limit the elevation of the vibrator at will, a

pair of spaced guards disposed on both sides of said control-lever for protecting the saine, and seats in one of said guards for engageably retaining said control-lever in any one of a plurality of positions.

29. In a typevvriting machine having a platen-carriage7 a platen thereon? a ribbonvibrator and a guide therefor7 the combination With a shift-frame for said carriage and a vibrator-lever operatively associated With said vib'ator, of a shiftable unitary fulcrum for said vibrator-lever supported on said shift-frame, an upwardly-projeeting and independently-pivoted control-lever also supported on said shift-frame and operatively associated with said fulcrum to shift the same in relation to said vibrator-lever whereby to alter the throw of the lever and thereby alter the elevation of the vibrator, and a pair of spaced guards secured on the shittframe in elevated position and extending on both sides of said control-lever, `one of said guards being serrated to resiliently hold the control-lever in any attained position.

WinLiAM A. DoBsoN. 

